Digital Commons Network^™

Potentiality Of Biogas And The Role Of Substrates In Biogas Formation Potential, Scott Shealy

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Biogas infrastructure development, particularly in countries such as Vietnam, has the potential to provide great benefits to people living agrarian lifestyles in rural areas. Decentralized wastewater treatment facilities that utilize anaerobic technologies to digest organic waste for the purpose of collecting methane provide a number of benefits to centralized use as well. In both cases, users benefit from the production of methane gas, wastewater treatment, nutrient recycling, and organic fertilizers. In the case of decentralized use, as is most prevalent in Vietnam, integrated farming methods, such as the VACB model, allow farmers to reap the benefits of a wide array …

Changing Channels: The Bhutanese Middle Path Approach To Television, Kate Linthicum

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The experience of watching commercial television and the ideals it promotes are incompatible with fundamentalist Buddhist teachings about consciousness, community and desire. However, the Bhutanese, whose culture, traditions, and worldview have a strong Buddhist foundation have not rejected the medium, which was introduced in Bhutan in 1999. But they have not fully embraced it. Instead they follow the Middle Path, weighing its positive and negative impacts in a manner that seems influenced by the guiding principle of non-extremism in Buddhist philosophy, and a notion the Bhutanese have adopted as a developmental strategy to attain Gross National Happiness. By first examining …

Democracy On The Steppe: A Search For Active Local Citizenship In Rural Mongolia, Matthew D. Simonson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study seeks to understand how engaged Mongolia’s nomadic herders and other rural citizens are in local decision-making. To do so, we conducted over sixty interviews with rural citizens, local officials, and political experts. We also carried out two page-long written surveys which were filled out by nearly two hundred rural citizens in four provinces. Though many Mongolian political experts tend to dismiss local government as powerless and treat rural citizens as homogenous entity, our research has uncovered a remarkable diversity of opinion and activism at the local level. Through their participation in bag meetings and conversations with local officials, …

Education In A Rural Context: A Catalyst For Disappearing Villages?, Seth Schy

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In the proposal for this ISP the basic hypothesis was that education would catalyze an urban transition in Ogna. Specifically, it seemed as though people were leaving Ogna in pursuit of higher education, and eventually for a job in the city. It was posited that the eventual yet large migration to the city would have various effects on the social, economic, and structural stability of Ogna, and further, it was thought that with this migration a drastic change in Ogna’s culture would occur. Thus it appeared possible that eventually Ogna as it is today might cease to exist. As a …

Focal Spot, Spring 2007

Focal Spot All Issues

No abstract provided.

A Syllabus Of Errors, Douglas Laycock

Michigan Law Review

Modern American society is pervasively regulated. It is also religiously diverse to a degree that is probably unprecedented in the history of the world. It is inevitable that some of these diverse religious practices will violate some of these pervasive regulations, and equally inevitable that if we ask whether all these regulations are really necessary, sometimes the answer will be no. If we take free exercise of religion seriously, sometimes it will make sense to exempt sincere religious practices from generally applicable laws - but only some laws, and only some applications. Hardly anyone thinks that human sacrifice should be …

Life-Giving Speech Amid An Empire Of Silence, Walter Brueggemann

Michigan Law Review

It will come as no surprise to readers of the Law Review that James Boyd White is a daring and wise practitioner of what Clifford Geertz terms "blurred genres." By appeal to Kenneth Burke, Victor Turner, and Paul Ricoeur, among others, Geertz envisions a broad interpretive venture that breaks out of the rigid regulations of a particular discipline to the larger constructive enterprise that entertains life and its meaning as a "game" of face-to-face engagement, or as a "drama" that presses on to the next scene. White's work fits that vision precisely. In Living Speech: Resisting the Empire of Force, …

Classic Revisited: Penal Theory In Paradise Lost, Jillisa Brittan, Richard A. Posner

Michigan Law Review

Milton's great poem can be enjoyed as a supernatural adventure story in the epic tradition-indeed almost as a science-fiction fantasy. An incredibly powerful supernatural figure-call him Father-lives on planet Heaven somewhere in outer space, surrounded by lesser supernatural beings, called Angels. Father begets Son asexually, and declares his intent to give him vice regal authority. Infuriated at Son's being promoted over him, the foremost Angel, L leads a third of the Angels in violent rebellion against Father and Son. At first it seems the rebels will best the loyal Angels. But Father sends in Son to defeat the rebels all …

On Dworkin And Borkin, Tom Lininger

Michigan Law Review

This Essay will use Dworkin's and Davis's scholarship as a jumping-off point for a discussion of the Supreme Court nomination process. I argue that while Dworkin's and Davis's books, when read together, expose a significant problem with the current nomination process, a possible solution to this predicament may lie in a change to the judicial code of ethics and the procedural rules for confirmation of judges. My analysis will proceed in four steps. Part I will address Dworkin's arguments. Part II will evaluate the analysis and evidence in Davis's book. Part III will consider an additional variable to which neither …

Statistical Analysis Of Joint Short-Term And Long-Term Survival In Resuscitation Research, Charles F. Babbs

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Objective: To develop statistical tools that utilize combined initial survival data and post-resuscitation survival data to test the null hypothesis that true, population-wide outcomes following experimental CPR interventions are not different from control. Method: A new test statistic, d2, for evaluating Type 1 error is derived from a bivariate, two-dimensional analysis of categorical initial resuscitation and post-resuscitation survival data, which are statistically independent because they are obtained during non-overlapping periods of time. The d2 test statistic, which is distributed as a chi-squared distribution, is derived from first principles and validated using Monte Carlo methods of computer simulation for thousands of …

Loss Of Alkaline Earth Elements By Runoff From Agricultural Watersheds, M. A. Elrashidi, D. Hammer, M. D. Mays, C. A. Seybold, S. D. Peaslee

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The loss of agricultural chemicals in runoff from agricultural land is a major cause of poor surface water quality in the United State. Scientists (Natural Resources Conservation Service) developed a technique using climatic, hydrologic, and soil survey information to estimate the impact of agricultural watersheds on natural water resources. The objective of this study was to apply this technique on the Wagon Train (WT) watershed to predict loss of alkaline earth elements (calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg], barium [Ba], and strontium [Sr]) by runoff from soils and to estimate elements loading into WT reservoir. The predicted losses of Ca, Mg, Ba, …

International Dateline -- European Conference Adds Weight To Debate On Scientific Publishing, Peter T. Shepherd

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Issues In Vendor/Library Relations -- Features, Bob Nardini

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

The "Unfinished Business” Of Kill Bill: Cinematic Discourse In And Out Of The Dark, Allen H. Redmon

Journal of Religion & Film

Tarantino offers in Kill Bill a unique synthesis of a diverse set of films and film histories that, if understood in the communal, religious sense Margaret Miles describes in her book Seeing and Believing, could initiate creative reflection about his film and the often indiscernible set of cultural and filmic influences it contains. The present paper demonstrates the utility of a religious understanding of Tarantino's film be discussing the narrative and stylistic elements in the film that compromise the film's own violence and initiate the types of critical discussions Miles champions in her book.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations To Probe Effects Of Ultra-Short, Very-High Voltage Pulses On Cells, Viswanadham Sridhara

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The use of very high electric fields (∼ 100kV/cm or higher) with pulse durations in the nanosecond range (Ultra-short) has been a very recent development in bioelectrics. Traditionally, the electric field effects have mostly been confined to: (a) low field, long-duration pulses, and (b) focused mainly on electroporation studies. Thus, aspects such as possible field-induced DNA damage, calcium release, alterations in neuro-transmitters, or voltage-gating have generally been overlooked.

Ultra-short, high-field pulses open the way to targeted and deliberate apoptotic cell killing (e.g., of tumor cells). Though experimental data is very useful, it usually yields information on macroscopic variables that is …

Molecular Phylogenetics Of Perciform Fishes Using The Nuclear Recombination Activating Gene 1, Andrew R. Mahon

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The order Perciformes contains one-third of all extant fishes in twenty different suborders and over 10,000 species. Few systematic investigations have been performed on this large group of fishes at the suborder level and their evolutionary history is widely recognized as problematic. This dissertation presents three studies: a molecular phylogenetic analysis of the putative suborders of the order Perciformes, an analysis of interrelationships of the families of the perciform suborder Percoidei, and a multi-gene investigation of the percoid superfamily Sparoidea.

The taxa sampled in this dissertation represent one of the most inclusive molecular datasets, to date, testing the monophyly of …

Discovering The Legal Concerns Of The Tennessee Agricultural Community, Ernest Bazen, Julie Pedigo Bowling

Journal of Extension

New production strategies, changing consumer demand, dramatic revisions to federal programs, and new state programs have expanded the choices and decisions that farm families are faced with on a daily basis. Many of the day-to-day activities of farmers and ranchers involve commitments that have legal implications. Understanding these legal issues can lead to better risk-management decisions. The most successful farmers are now looking at a deliberate and knowledgeable approach to legal risk management as a vital part of their farm plan. An important finding of the study reported here is that farmers often seek educational materials from state Extension programs.

Sustainable Farm Tourism: Understanding And Managing Environmental Impacts Of Visitor Activities, Carol Kline, David Cardenas, Yu-Fai Leung, Stacy Sanders

Journal of Extension

Our nation's rural areas are heavily affected both by sprawl and increased recreational use. Agritourism is rapidly being embraced as a strategy to conserve the family farm, increase revenue, and teach the public about authentic farming life. However, the literature reveals little evidence that the environmental impacts of visitors are being considered by farmers, planners, and tourism professionals. The exploratory study reported here evaluated the awareness of visitor impact problem among farm owners and assessed the types of impacts in five farm destinations in North Carolina. Potential management strategies addressing the impacts in different impact zones are discussed.

Stakeholders' Input On 4-H Science And Technology Program Areas: An Exploratory Study, Bradley S. Barker

Journal of Extension

In an effort to prepare youth for the 21st century workplace, 4-H has placed an emphasis in science and technology program areas. The purpose of the exploratory study reported here was to gather input via a mail survey from 4-H families concerning the development of new science and technology programs. The results of the survey were themed into six main areas: technology, agriculture, science, implementation ideas, self-efficacy, and miscellaneous. Moreover, the results of the survey indicated that new programs should be connected to traditional program areas especially agriculture.

Experience Economy Strategies: Adding Value To Small Rural Businesses, Ann Marie Fiore, Linda Niehm, Haemoon Oh, Miyoung Jeong

Journal of Extension

Many Extension programs designed to enhance rural economic development have focused on development of value-added goods, particularly agricultural goods. The Experience Economy perspective suggests that economic development should also include value-added consumer experiences offered by an array of small rural businesses, such as retail, hospitality, tourism, and restaurant establishments. This article introduces Experience Economy strategies and elements of business offerings that create experiential value and provides a tool to help small business operators assess and enhance their experiential offerings that generate value for consumers.

The Path To (And From?) Judicial Independence, Robert C. Power

Cardozo Public Law, Policy & Ethics Journal

No abstract provided.

The Evolution Of Modern North Carolina Environmental And Conservation Policy Legislation, Milton S. Heath Jr., Alex L. Hess Iii

Campbell Law Review

This essay ... will trace the evolution and legislative history of modern environmental policy declarations and their interaction with earlier conservation policy declarations. It will also examine two topics that illustrate the evolution of environmental policy through legislation on subjects that are important elements of environmental law: interbasin transfers of water and intergovernmental pollution control law (the "Hardison Amendments"). These two topics were selected to illustrate policy developments reflected in the legislation itself rather than in policy declarations because each of them has had significant legal and political consequences.

Derailing The Gravy Train: A Three Pronged Approach To End Fraud In Mass-Tort Medical Diagnosing, Matthew Mall

William & Mary Law Review

No abstract provided.

Moral And Religious Convictions As Categories For Special Treatment: The Exemption Strategy, Kent Greenawalt

William & Mary Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Morality Of Property, Thomas W. Merrill, Henry E. Smith

William & Mary Law Review

No abstract provided.

As If It Had Never Happened, Arthur Ripstein

William & Mary Law Review

No abstract provided.

Morality And Contract: The Question Of Paternalism, James Gordley

William & Mary Law Review

No abstract provided.

Signaling Through Galphai2 Protein Is Required For Recruitment Of Neutrophils For Antibody-Mediated Elimination Of Larval Strongyloides Stercoralis In Mice., Udaikumar M. Padigel, Louis Stein, Kevin Redding, James J. Lee, Thomas J. Nolan, Gerhard A. Schad, Lutz Birnbaumer, David Abraham

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

The heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein Galphai2 is involved in regulation of immune responses against microbial and nonmicrobial stimuli. Galphai2-/- mice have a selectively impaired IgM response consistent with a disorder in B cell development yet have augmented T cell effector function associated with increased production of IFN-gamma and IL-4. The goal of the present study was to determine if a deficiency in the Galphai2 protein in mice would affect the protective immune response against Strongyloides stercoralis, which is IL-4-, IL-5-, and IgM-dependent. Galphai2-/- and wild-type mice were immunized and challenged with S. stercoralis larvae and analyzed for protective immune responses …

Cultural Environmentalism And The Constructed Commons, Molly Shaffer Van Houweling

Law and Contemporary Problems

Van Houweling explores both the benefits and failings of conservation easements on land on the one hand and the licensing commons on the other. Conservation easement The tools of cultural environmentalism in the lights of objections to conservation easements and more general concerns with complicated and fragmented property rights are also considered. Among other things, she provides clear theoretical differences between the public domain, where freedom is based on the absence of property rights, and the licensing commons, where freedom is based on the absence on the preemptive exercise of the property rights by the rights holder in order to …

A Collaborative Model For Children’S Environmental Health Policy: The North Carolina School Children’S Health Act Of 2006, Fawn Pattison, Katherine M. Shea

Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum

No abstract provided.